burgle

Everyday

(mainly UK, Australia) To burgle a building or a person is to break into their home or building and steal things. tree →

In the lessons

In news and safety talk «we were burgled» means thieves broke into the house. Americans more often say «burglarize». In stories a character's house is burgled and a detective investigates.

Examples

• Our neighbours were burgled while on holiday. tree →
• The shop was burgled twice this year. tree →
• Lock your windows so the house doesn't get burgled. tree →
• Someone tried to burgle the school. tree →
• The thief was caught after burgling five houses. tree →
• In the story, the cat foiled a plan to burgle the bakery. tree →

Note

Mainly British and Australian; American English uses «burglarize». The person is a «burglar», the crime is «burglary». You burgle a place or a person, you steal a thing.